FOOD BITES

By Angela S. Hoover, Staff Writer

Changing Diet As You Age Can Improve Memory

Memory loss is one of the main and early symptoms of dementia. People living with dementia have on average between two and eight conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and hypertension. These conditions may accelerate cognitive and functional impairment. Researchers at the University of Technology (UTS) in Sydney, Australia, have found strong evidence of a link between food groups and memory loss and its related health issues. UTS researcher Dr. Luna Xu studied data from 139,000 older Australians and found high consumption of fruit and vegetables was linked to lowered risk of memory loss and heart disease. High consumption of protein-rich foods was associated with better memory. Xu also found the link between food groups and memory status varies among different older age groups. People aged 80 years and older with a low consumption of cereals are at highest risk of memory loss and heart disease. Xu says the study shows the need for age-specific healthy dietary guidelines. The results were published in the International Journal of Public Health in February.

Ketogenic Diet Helps Combat Flu

A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet such as the keto regimen may help combat the flu virus. Mice fed a ketogenic diet were better able to ward off the flu virus than mice fed food high in carbohydrates, according to researchers at Yale University. The ketogenic diet of meat, fish, poultry and non-starchy vegetables activates a subset of T cells in the lungs not previously associated with the immune system’s response to influenza, enhancing mucus production from airway cells that can effectively trap the virus. “This was a totally unexpected finding,” said co-senior author Akiko Iwasaki, professor of immunobiology and molecular, cellular and developmental biology and investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Trainees in Iwasaki’s lab found immune system activators called inflammasomes can cause harmful immune system responses. The researchers tried feeding mice the keto diet because other research showed keto diets blocked inflammasome formation. Mice fed a keto diet and infected with the influenza virus had a higher survival rate than mice on a high-carb diet. The diet triggered the release of gamma delta T cells, immune system cells that produce mucus in the cell linings of the lungs; the highcarb diet did not. “This study shows that the way the body burns fat to produce ketone bodies from the food we eat can fuel the immune system to fight flu infection,” said co-senior author Visha Deep Dixit, one of the trainees with the initial idea. The results were published in the journal Science Immunology on Nov. 15.

Algae for Improved Gastrointestinal Health

A widespread, fast-growing, single-celled organism called Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has been the subject of research topics ranging from algae-based biofuels to plant evolution. In fact, it’s the most exhaustively studied algae, although it has not yet been studied for its potential consumption benefits. A firstof-its-kind study tested this green algae on symptoms related to human digestion. It was found to be helpful in improving irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms of diarrhea, gas and bloating. The researchers tested the algae on human volunteers, including those with IBS symptoms. Volunteers consumed powdered C. reinhardtii biomass daily and reported their gastrointestinal health for a month. Results showed the participants reported significantly less bowel discomfort and diarrhea, gas and bloating and more regular bowel movements. The volunteers sent stool samples to the American Gut Project to assess any changes in their microbiomes. The results indicated the gut microbiome composition remained diverse and no significant changes occurred during the study as a result of consuming the algae. The researchers say more testing with larger group participants across longer times is needed. The researchers concluded in their paper published in the Journal of Functional Foods on Jan. 27 that “the addition of C. reinhardtii into the diet will not only add nutritional value but may also relieve some gastrointestinal symptoms of certain individuals.”